Penn Parents 2020

A YEAR OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | WELLNESS INITIATIVES | VIRTUAL LEARNING SUCCESS

PARENTS University of Pennsylvania FALL 2020

Penn @ Home

FALL 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

While I have shared numerous messages with the Penn community since the onset of the pandemic, the common thread that connects them all is that we thrive when we stand united, and when we demonstrate care for one another. The well-being and safety of our Penn family has been at the heart of every decision we have made.

Penn’s resourcefulness, resilience, and responsiveness has enabled us to adapt to changing circumstances with grit, so expressively defined as “passion and perseverance for long term goals” by our own celebrated professor Dr. Angela Duckworth. With an unwavering commitment to the safety of our students, we have pivoted to a virtual learning experience that is on par with their ingenuity and creativity.

Together, we embrace the academic theme for 2020–21— the Year of Civic Engagement. In the groundbreaking Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program, Dr. Duckworth and other brilliant professors are teaching thought-provoking coursework, where wellness, service, and citizenship initiatives combine to expand opportunities for civil dialogue. This discourse, along with pioneering and accessible programming at our Civic House and other University hubs, will propel us toward a more impactful and inclusive future at the University and in the wider circle of our nation and our world.

With guidance from our Chief Wellness Officer, in concert with our first-ever Vice President for Social Equity and Community, our dedicated faculty and staff, and the dynamic leaders within our Health System, I have no doubt that our collective strength and hope will carry us forward.

In the words of our esteemed founder Benjamin Franklin, “Well done is better than well said.” The efforts we make today will determine how we emerge on the other side of history, and I am grateful to you, our Penn parents, for believing in us as we work together for the greater good.

Amy Gutmann, President Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science in the School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Communication in the Annenberg School for Communication

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CONTENTS

02 THE “WE” IN WELLNESS Penn is here for you and your student

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ANCIENT GREEK IDEALS, 21ST-CENTURY EDUCATION A look at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program

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PENN MEDICINE RESPONDS

PENN LIBRARIES IN THE VIRTUAL AGE

Inside our Health System’s plan to counter COVID-19

Digital resources for academic success

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BENDING THE ARC TOWARDS JUSTICE

TIPS FOR ONLINE LEARNING

Meet Penn's first-ever Vice President for Social Equity and Community

How to make the most of virtual learning environments

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MEET THE NEW FACULTY DIRECTOR OF CIVIC HOUSE

THE POWER OF PARENT PHILANTHROPY

A Q&A with Dr. Herman Beavers

Sustaining Penn’s commitment to teaching, learning, research, and service

ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE FOR GOOD

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Penn Parents is a publication of the Office of Parent Outreach and Development P E N N PA R E N T S M AG A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 0

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The

in

“I call it the COVID pivot,” says Dr. Benoit Dubé. That’s how the University's Chief Wellness Officer and Associate Provost describes a phenomenon that is now familiar to many of us: quickly adapting the way we do things to meet the demands of an ever-evolving pandemic. As an essential member of a campus-wide taskforce, Dr. Dubé aims to help students navigate a Fall Semester unlike any in Penn’s 280-year history.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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“The University’s health and wellness services have become virtual, or in some instances hybrid, meaning that we offer some in-person activities or support, but there’s an online or virtual corollary as well,” says Dr. Dubé. Student Health Service now provides a combination of telehealth and in-person appointments. At Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), students can connect with a counselor via teletherapy or an office visit in addition to CAPS’ 24/7 phone service. Digital meditation workshops, mental health applications, and short, easily digestible videos focusing on coping strategies can be accessed anywhere there’s an internet connection. The unifying goal, Dr. Dubé explains, is to meet students where they are, whenever they need support.

“We want students to get a sense of agency in engaging with resources that are accessible and convenient, whatever their schedule may be.”

Dr. Dubé hopes undergraduates will make their own well-being a priority by keeping three guiding principles in mind. The first is to create a routine— ideally one that includes daily exercise. The CAPS website hosts yoga videos for every level that are easy to do at home, and the University’s NatureRX program encourages students to spend time outdoors, a proven method to reduce stress and restore energy.

The next principle is to nurture healthy relationships. “Social distance doesn’t mean social isolation,” Dr. Dubé says. He has been particularly inspired by the creative ways students are connecting when gathering physically isn’t possible. “We have Zoom a cappella groups now, and the Penn Band performs YouTube concerts,” he shares. “From our students, we have seen resilience and we have seen adaptability.”

The third tenet is to disconnect as needed. “We want our students to be really mindful of information overload—how detrimental it can be and how it leads to anxiety,” Dr. Dubé says.

The benefits of these tips—making a routine, connecting, and disconnecting—aren’t limited to students. Dr. Dubé also encourages parents to

incorporate them in their day-to-day lives for their own well-being and as a bridge to understanding and engaging with their child’s experience.

“We’re all anxious right now, and I think it’s important for parents to share that and communicate openly and honestly with their student,” he says.

“Ultimately, I want to send a message of hope to parents and students alike that, yes, this is stressful, but we can weather it together.”

PENN IS HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR STUDENT: Counseling and Psychological Services Clinicians are available 24/7 to consult with parents and guardians pennpri.de/caps (215) 898-7021 MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19 RESOURCES Look for a special note for parents and guardians under Additional Resources pennpri.de/mentalhealth STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE pennpri.de/shs (215) 746-3535 P E N N PA R E N T S M AG A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 0

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PENN MEDICINE

RESPONDS D

riven by innovation, Penn Medicine has built a reputation for research and patient care that places it among the best hospital systems in the world. As University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin B. Mahoney likes to say, “Our normal has always been extraordinary.” COVID-19 may have redefined “normal,” but Penn’s commitment to excellence remains a constant.

Penn Medicine has responded powerfully to the threat of the novel coronavirus. Its physicianresearchers are pursuing an ambitious threepronged strategy geared toward keeping the University community healthy while leading the charge against COVID-19.

The first aspect of this plan, according to Mahoney, is to remain one step ahead of the virus.

This means safeguarding the Penn community and its surrounding neighborhood with everything from increased testing availability to visiting patients in their own homes to the development of a digital application called PennOpen Pass, designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread and streamline contact tracing efforts for faculty, staff, students, and select visitors on campus. Additionally, new waiting room regulations and a focus on telehealth are promoting patient safety while maintaining quality of care.

Penn Medicine’s strategy also includes accelerating the pace of discovery. Researchers at the Penn Institute for Immunology have taken full advantage of the University’s strengths in the field to discover three relevant immunotypes, which may lead to more effective treatment options. On the technology front, the rapid development of digital tools like COVID Watch has led to faster responses for symptomatic patients—and reassurance for

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those who remain unaffected. “Thousands have been monitored since the program began, and at any one time, 1,000 patients are being actively monitored,” says Mahoney.

The success of this research and targeted patient care relies on clinician and staff safety. To that end, Penn has received generous gifts from partners, including Joshua J. Harris, W’86, PAR’23, David S. Blitzer, W’91, PAR’24, and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, who leapt into action to establish the Penn Serology Research Fund. This fund supports research into the antibody response to COVID-19, including a study of more than 2,000 health care professionals—one of the first of its kind. It tests an individual’s antibody levels over time to identify those who are asymptomatic, helping our teams to avoid spreading the virus and providing a continual source of assurance to workers on the front line.

The entire University community is encountering unprecedented challenges—and Penn Medicine is helping us rise to overcome them.

“The lessons we’ve learned from the coronavirus pandemic will only further our mission,” says Mahoney, “strengthening our commitment to conducting breakthrough research and providing outstanding patient care.”

BENDING THE ARC TOWARD

JUSTICE

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he Rev. Charles L. Howard, C’00, is looking inward for outward change. He knows from his 12 years as University Chaplain how self-reflection and challenging conversations can be channeled into meaningful action.

Now as Penn’s first-ever Vice President for Social Equity and Community, Dr. Howard is examining how the University can become even more inclusive, sharing the progress of students and faculty who are working for justice at entities like the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships and Civic House, and inspiring all who call Penn home to create hope and healing, both on campus and beyond.

"This new position reflects the way the world is right now. In many ways, we’re ahead of the curve. It’s exciting that Penn gets to lead the way in this intersection of community and University life."

Dr. Howard views himself primarily as an internal consultant for students. “Equity and justice-related issues are really important to this generation,” he notes.

“Scrolling through Instagram, you see that so much of their conversation is about justice and pushing back against discrimination. My hope is that we can create more avenues for them to share their gifts and apply their talents and passion.”

While his position is new, the work is familiar for Dr. Howard, who has been interested in caring for others since his days as a Penn student, when he was involved with Civic House and volunteered with the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. After graduating, he worked as a hospice and hospital chaplain and performed outreach to the homeless before joining the University’s staff in 2008.

He has hit the ground running, overseeing Penn Projects for Progress—a $2 million fund to support initiatives that address social issues and disparities— and developing inaugural programming and hosting speakers. Where others might be concerned about the coronavirus pandemic limiting students’ ability to connect, Dr. Howard sees opportunity. “We can’t do a large event on campus, but maybe we’ll have an even bigger crowd on an online platform,” he muses.

Going one step further, Dr. Howard urges parents to use the virtual nature of the Fall Semester as a chance to get more involved with their students’ college lives. “One of the opportunities of a highly virtual year is that it might allow parents to tune in to more than they would otherwise,” he says.

“Parents are important members of the Penn family. And we invite you to journey with us over the next few years.”

The Rev. Charles L. Howard, C’00, speaks at a 2019 campus vigil following the New Zealand mosque attacks.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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A YEAR OF

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH

Preparing an informed and participative citizenry has been integral to a Penn education since the University’s founding. The Year of Civic Engagement—Penn’s academic theme for 2020–21—places the civic purpose of higher education at the center of student life and learning. Through an array of virtual workshops, lectures, and dialogues, students at all four undergraduate schools will have the opportunity to work together as they envision and build stronger communities at Penn, in Philadelphia, and throughout the world. Here are how two dynamic initiatives—Civic House and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program—are driving this mission.

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Meet

Herman Beavers

FACULTY DIRECTOR OF CIVIC HOUSE

In July 2020, Civic House, the University’s hub for student-led community service and social advocacy, welcomed Dr. Herman Beavers, HOM’96, PAR’19, as its new Faculty Director. A renowned professor of English and Africana Studies at the School of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Beavers shares his thoughts on his new role.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

EXCITES YOU ABOUT LEADING CIVIC Q WHAT HOUSE AT THIS MOMENT?

WILL CIVIC HOUSE CONTRIBUTE TO THE Q HOW YEAR OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?

very exciting to be in the midst of the young A It’s people at Civic House right now. This is a difficult

year is the Year of Civic Engagement for us.

A Every At Civic House, we’re going to engage the way

US ABOUT CIVIC HOUSE’S SOCIAL Q TELL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK AND HOW IT GUIDES

US ABOUT THE CIVIC SCHOLARS Q TELL PROGRAM AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT

a framework that offers the self-awareness to A It’s confront one’s privilege and engage directly with

partner with the Admissions Office and invite A We incoming students to apply to be Civic Scholars

moment, between the upcoming presidential election and the protests that have sprung up all over the country in response to systemic racism. Our students are going to have to confront all this. When you start talking about civic engagement, you find out new things about yourself, and you rise to the occasion in ways you could not have anticipated. I’m looking forward to the conversations we’ll have and the reflection we’re going to do.

YOUR WORK.

oppression and power. It invites our students to think about collaboration, leadership, education, and mentorship and to cultivate the skills to make an impact now, even when that means remaining quiet and listening to what people have to say. It gives students the idea of civic engagement as a network of partnerships. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all notion of social justice, but we hope students develop a strong set of competencies and commit themselves to pursuing social justice on the ground.

we always engage—with empathy, compassion, seriousness, integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we’re going to do it consistently.

I want students to recognize the importance of not just showing up once to pick up trash or tutor a kid in math. I hope civic engagement becomes integral to them for the rest of their lives.

OFFERS PENN STUDENTS.

while at Penn. They do internships with forwardthinking community partners, conduct research, and complete a capstone project in their senior year. The program is grounded in practice and reflection, and it supports students as they explore approaches to social justice and mutually beneficial collaborations in West Philadelphia. Our Civic Scholars are an amazing group of people, and it’s a real privilege to be involved with them.

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ancient greek ideals 21st-Century Education T

hanks to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program, Penn students now have another way to explore holistic civic engagement. Launched in 2019, the program joins Civic House, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and the Robert A. Fox Leadership Program in spearheading the Year of Civic Engagement. Taking its name from the ancient Greek concept of paideia, meaning the “education of the whole person,” its goal is to provide students with a robust civic education centered on civil dialogue, service, and wellness, and in doing so, transform public discourse for the better.

“We live in a time when there’s a lot of polarization and disagreement,” says Executive Director Leah Seppanen Anderson. “The SNF Paideia Program can step into this context and help all of us reflect on what that means for how we engage and interact with people who are different than ourselves.”

Providing opportunities for Penn students to practice productive and effective dialogue across different ideological perspectives is a hallmark of the Gamba Family Red and Blue Exchange, an initiative housed within the SNF Paideia Program. Established

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by John F., W’61, PAR’92, and Mary Anne S. Gamba, HUP’65, G’84, PAR’92, the Red and Blue Exchange hosts public forums and a newly launched speaker series.

The first session in September featured Jonathan Haidt, a New York University professor and social psychologist, who delivered a livestreamed lecture on the value of open-mindedness and embracing diverse viewpoints, followed by a public dialogue with a panel of Penn students.

In celebration of the Year of Civic Engagement, the SNF Paideia Program also collaborated with the Office of New Student Orientation to help develop this fall’s Penn Reading Project, which virtually connected firstyear students to discuss writings by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Benjamin Franklin, and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the documentary film, Song of Parkland. Other highlights of the Fall Semester include an online workshop on wellness, art, and social justice, along with a new wellness blog and social media campaign exploring the interdependence of individual and community well-being.

For those students looking to delve more deeply, SNF Paideia-designated courses offer the opportunity

to integrate civic development into their academic framework. Open to all undergraduates and co-taught by faculty drawn from schools and departments across the University, the classes cover topics ranging from the science of passion and perseverance to the practice of civil discourse and the biological roots of intergroup conflict. For the first cohort of SNF Paideia Fellows—a select group of sophomores committed to engaging more deeply with the program—this year offers the chance to create and implement their own civic engagement projects.

"At the heart of this new program is the goal of providing Penn undergraduates with the skills, knowledge, values, and experiences necessary for engaging in civil, informed discourse with those with whom they may disagree. Our aspiration is to produce citizens and leaders who can effectively bridge social, cultural, economic, and political divides in their personal, professional, and civic lives."

—Faculty Director Michael X. Delli Carpini

▲ Students discuss achieving personal, long-term goals in Dr. Angela Duckworth's Grit Lab, one of the inaugural SNF Paideia courses last spring. ◄ Students engage in a roundtable discussion during a spring 2019 SNF Paideia course.

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PENN LIBRARIES in the

Virtual Age A

stack of papers shuffling, keyboards clicking, and the occasional textbook thumping onto a desk’s flat surface—these are the noises that have long served as the typical soundtrack to studying at the Penn Libraries. Though it has been quieter throughout the 14 libraries in the University system this year, the vibrant pace of collaboration and knowledge sharing has not slowed. Thanks to a significantly enhanced roster of digital services, students can still fully engage with the Libraries’ vast array of scholarly resources, whether they are on campus or learning remotely.

Launched in March and continually updated, the Penn Libraries Virtual Support portal provides undergraduates with the opportunity to talk directly to a Penn librarian, gain unfiltered access to the University’s digital collections, receive teaching and learning guidance, and obtain technical assistance.

“The Penn Libraries have always served students in a technology-mediated manner,” says Nursing Liaison Librarian Richard James. “Most crucially at this time, none of our work is confined to any one building or place, and we now have the capacity to be with students virtually and continue to meet their needs at the same high levels they have come to expect.”

Two highlights of this approach are the chat and video consultation options that connect students individually to one of 50 subject librarians.

“We have designed this so that a student talking virtually with a librarian is essentially the equivalent to standing in the middle of a library without walls,” says Brigitte Weinsteiger, Associate Vice Provost for Collections & Scholarly Communications. “Our librarians hold deep expertise in a host of disciplines, and we have replicated the virtual environment to match the in-person experience as closely as we can.”

This adaptability is also reflected in the Libraries’ rapid response to acquisition requests. Since March, the University has purchased more than 35,000 e-books, and librarians continue the effort to honor new requests for books, films for streaming, and commercially available scholarly articles.

“Our librarians remain committed to not only connecting students to the right research material, but also to the right people to provide them with the best and most expert assistance,” adds Weinsteiger.

“As a team, we are dedicated to doing our part to create an environment in which every student thrives and succeeds.”

To see the resources available, visit: pennpri.de/virtualsupport

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Tips

for ONLINE LEARNING The start of every Fall Semester requires an adjustment for undergraduates—whether it is their freshman or senior year. Fall 2020 poses a unique set of challenges. With the vast majority of instruction occurring online, we reached out to Provost Wendell Pritchett as well as student tutors and staff members at the Weingarten Learning Resources Center for a few tips on how parents can help their students have a successful and productive semester.

WENDELL PRITCHETT Provost and Presidential Professor of Law and Education “The University is here to help your student sustain their educational goals. The Weingarten Learning Resources Center is a great place to start. Your student can find a wide range of strategies for remote learning at pennpri.de/onlinelearning, including structuring and managing time proactively, forming online study groups, and preparing for open-book exams. Also encourage your student to connect regularly with their advisors, professors, and teaching assistants. They understand your student’s individual situation and can serve as valuable sources of advice. ”

MADELINE SMITH, C’21 Biology and Modern Middle Eastern Studies Student Tutor at the Weingarten Learning Resources Center “Remember to give your child enough space so they can practice making decisions for themselves—focus more on support and less on supervision. Virtual learning can sometimes feel isolating, so checking in with your student and letting them know they have your support can be valuable. However, when you’re doing this, be sure to remember to ask about things other than schoolwork, as college is so much more than just getting good grades!”

JANE HOLAHAN Executive Director, Weingarten Learning Resources Center “It is essential to have a variety of strategies in your tool box, where you can establish goals and use them as guides to accomplish work. I recommend that students create and continually update a calendar. This will help them stick to a schedule and develop good habits, leading to success in the classroom as well as in their personal lives.

Additionally, since we are all in this together, I encourage parents to share their own successes and challenges in adapting to this new reality. Learn what works and celebrate your accomplishments with your student!”

SAMANTHA STEEMAN, C’21 Biological Basis of Behavior Student Tutor at the Weingarten Learning Resources Center “Encouraging students to try their best to keep a positive and open mind is one of the most beneficial things that parents can do. Having an open line of communication about how they’re feeling throughout the semester can help boost morale while adjusting to a virtual learning environment.”

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PA R E N T F O C U S

ONE PENN COMMUNITY Current parents pull together in extraordinary ways to make a direct impact on the student experience.

Here is a look at how your Fiscal Year 2020 giving is advancing The Power of Penn Campaign:

PENN MEDICINE $4.7M in parent giving strengthens the research, treatment, and medical education that advance cures and improve quality of life worldwide

THE PENN FUND

ATHLETICS

Current parent contributions of almost $3.9M provide immediate financial support to all areas of undergraduate life and learning

$2.8M in parent support helps our scholar-athletes succeed in the classroom, in their training, and in the wider community

ARTS AND CULTURE Contributions of more than $940,000 help keep Penn’s cultural hubs vibrant—ensuring inspiring and innovative programming at places like the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Kelly Writers House, and the Institute of Contemporary Art

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS Nearly $4.4M in support for financial aid helps students with demonstrated need pursue a life-changing Penn education

RESEARCH Close to $4.8M in parent gifts spark opportunities for students to investigate new ideas alongside faculty or independently

As a parent, you have always played an integral role in your student’s education. To learn how you can participate in their Penn experience, contact Director of Parent Outreach and Development Rachel Shearon at rshearon@upenn.edu or (610) 290-2188.

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Parent FAQ Q: Where can my student go for learning resources in this new virtual setting?

Students have access to seasoned and innovative educators and resources through Weingarten Learning Resources Center. Visit their website at wlrc.vpul.upenn.edu to learn more about the staff’s commitment to supporting all students in this new environment.

Q: How can parents feel more connected to the University this year?

Please stay in touch with us! Check out our Facebook (www.facebook.com/PennParents) and Instagram (@pennparents)! Visit our official website at www.pennparents.upenn.edu and be sure to sign up to receive the monthly Penn Parents e-newsletter.

Lastly, reach out to our office to confirm we have your correct contact information. This ensures that you are receiving all communications from us, which are frequent.

to the

penn family The University’s Welcome Receptions offer our Penn families the opportunity to unite under the banner of the Red & Blue and bond before classes start. This year’s virtual format allowed for 13 coast-to-coast digital events and—for the first time ever—distinct online gatherings for each of the four undergraduate schools. Overall, more than 1,500 Quakers and their families greeted each other and kicked off an engagement with Penn that can last a lifetime.

Q: Will there still be clubs and organizations my student can join?

Student Group Registration for the 2020–21 academic year is now open. Check out The Office of Student Affairs at osa.vpul.upenn.edu/clubs and browse the many clubs and organizations that students can choose from.

Q: Are there any parentspecific events or programs to look forward to during the academic year?

Yes! Keep an eye out for email invitations for informative virtual events and programs, designed specifically with the Penn parent experience in mind.

The Office of Parent Outreach and Development is committed to creating avenues for Penn families to be informed and uniquely involved in the life of the University year-round.

To see upcoming virtual events, please visit: www.pennparents.upenn.edu

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Office of Parent Outreach and Development 2929 Walnut Street Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19104-5099 pennparents.upenn.edu

FALL 2020